Thermal Insulation Glass: How Does Thermal Insulation Work
Thermal insulation glass
Thermal insulating glass helps keep you warm in the winter
Due to continuous improvements in glass technologies, glass has become a flexible building material that can help buildings become more energy efficient, while allowing natural light transmission. Changing temperatures during the day, or between different seasons, make it challenging to maintain a comfortable indoor environment. Thermal insulating glass allows natural light into a room, while reducing the negative effects of cold outside temperatures by reflecting heat back into the room. See our thermal insulating glass products.
- Why use thermal insulating glass?
- What is thermal insulating glass and how is it made?
- Thermal insulation for every climate
- How is insulating performance measured? U-value
- Applications for thermal insulation glass
- Combining thermal insulation with other benefits in one glass solution
- Our thermal insulating product solutions
Why use thermal insulating glass?
Thermal comfort
In terms of its thermal insulation performance, insulating glass helps reflect indoor heat back into the room and form a shield against the cold exterior. It also helps minimize unpleasant cold drafts people can feel close to the glazing area due to a high temperature difference between the ambient air and the glass surface.
Energy efficiency
Used in double- or triple-insulating glass units (IGUs), thermal insulating glass can contribute to improving the energy efficiency of a building, thus helping to reduce the energy costs associated with indoor heating systems.
Open up views
Thermal insulating glass provides natural daylight and views of the outside, helping to increase the visual comfort of the building’s occupants. Its neutral color offers clear and natural views through the glass.
Meet energy codes
Today’s thermal insulating glass can help you meet stringent building energy codes. Our range of insulating glass solutions offers various levels of performance and aesthetics, adapted to different regions and climates.
What is thermal insulating glass and how is it made?
To provide the glass with thermal insulating properties, a very thin and permanent low-emissivity (low-E) coating is applied to the surface of the glass. This coating helps prevent heat transfer through the glass, and as a result, heat loss through the windows.
See in this video how glass is coated or connect to the Training Center to take the Glass Coating course and learn more:
Insulating glass unit (IGU)
An insulating glass unit (IGU) is a glazing assembly comprised of two or more lites of glass separated by one or more hermetically sealed cavities, filled with either air or inert gas. The configuration delivers superior insulating performance compared to monolithic (single pane) glazing, by reducing air-to-air heat transfer in the building envelope. When used in conjunction with low-E glass coatings, IGUs become an efficient mechanism in reducing heat-transfer. The number 3 surface placement of a thermal insulating coating can be ideal by retaining the heat inside the building or home.
Argon gas
Using argon gas rather than air in the interspace of the IGU reduces heat loss through the glazing, thus improving the insulating performance of the glazing.
Download our E-book explaining how an IGU works and how to improve its performance.
Thermal insulation for every climate
For comfort and energy savings, enhanced thermal insulating glazing has become a key part of meeting the minimum standard. In winter, this glazing can help improve comfort by minimizing cold spots and drafts in window. Some glass products combine thermal insulation with solar control properties to help prevent buildings from overheating during the summer, contributing to the comfort of the occupants all year round.
How is insulating performance measured? U-value
Insulating performance is measured using a parameter called the “U-value”, which describes the energy transferred caused by air temperature difference between the inside and outside of the building. It is expressed as the energy transfer per unit time, per unit surface area of the glazing, and per degree of temperature difference. If a glazing assembly has strong thermal insulating performance, only a small amount of energy will be transferred and so the U-value will be low. Double glazing with low-E thermal insulating glass provides double the performance in terms of thermal insulation compared to double glazing* with standard float glass without a low-E coating (U-value goes from 1.0 Btu/hr.ft.F down to 0.29 Btu/hr.ft.F). Using triple glazing can further improve thermal insulation performance (up to 0.18 Btu/hr.ft.F). * 4mm glass - 16mm interspace - 4 mm glass
Want to know more about glass?
Guardian™ Glass offers you a wealth of technical notes, tools and online learning to enhance your knowledge about glass, including interactive online courses. Visit the Resource Hub to learn more!
Applications for thermal insulation glass
The applications for thermal insulating glass are wide-ranging. In fact, any application where glazing is a physical barrier between the inside and outside of a building, particularly in cold or moderate climates, or for facades with a north-east orientation.
Windows
Using thermal insulation glass is an effective way of improving the energy efficiency of windows, making your living or workspace more comfortable all year round. As well as improved thermal performance, the glass can also offer great views to the outside, while also flooding home or office interiors with natural daylight.
Curtain walls
A curtain wall is a non-structural outer covering of a building. The curtain wall method of glazing enables glass to be used in large, uninterrupted areas of a building, creating consistent, attractive facades. Using thermal insulating glass in curtain wall glazing helps to enhance the comfort of building occupants all year round.
Combining thermal insulation with other benefits in one glass solution.
Low-E thermal insulating coatings can be applied on laminated glass to provide safety and security features, as well as noise reduction properties. Some thermal insulating glass solutions can also provide solar protection to help reduce the solar energy that enters a building through the glazing, therefore helping to reduce the risk of overheating of interior spaces.
Why choose Guardian Glass?
Guardian Glass employs experts in the creation and application of glass – constantly developing new glass technologies and techniques to deliver performance glass solutions all around the world. We’re focused on expanding the boundaries of what can be achieved with glass. From landmark architectural projects to home interiors and retail spaces. This means we work hand in hand with our partners and customers across the supply chain to ensure exactly the right outcome. In other words, when it comes to glass, we help you see what’s possible.
Our thermal insulating product solutions:
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SunGuard® eXtraSelective
SunGuard® eXtraSelective is our latest commercial range of triple silver solar control glass with world-class selectivity, which means it delivers an optimum ratio of natural light transmission to solar energy control.
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SunGuard® SuperNeutral
SunGuard® SuperNeutral™ is our commercial range of double silver coated glass, ideal for those seeking high-performance with a highly neutral aesthetic. Its superb natural light transmission, solar protection and thermal insulation make it ideal for a wide range of applications.
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SunGuard® High Performance
SunGuard® High Performance is our commercial range of single silver coated glass, which not only offers high solar control but also design flexibility and good levels of thermal insulation.
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Our thermal-insulation glass solutions
Whether you're drawing skyscrapers, remodeling homes or designing a new project, our team of glass experts is ready to help you find the right glass for your project.